A breakdown of MN-148 The Chachakka Sutta- The Six Sets of Six This sutta reveals the Buddha’s meticulous investigation method and how he demonstrated for the monks a way they too could end suffering by realizing the impersonal nature of everything. This drill can lead one to the true realization of Anatta teaching.

1) ( SUMMARY) Identifying the 6 sets of 6 as the six Internal bases, six External bases, six classes of Consciousness, six classes of Contact, six classes of Feeling, and six classes of Craving.

2) (EUMERATION) Breakdown of each set clearly according to the 6 sense doors ( Eye, Ear, Nose, Tongue, Body, and Mind) demonstrating a sense door, the sense door object and that sense door consciousness coming together to make Contact happen, then Feeling and then Craving.

3) (DEMONSTRATION OF NOT-SELF or the impersonal nature of everything) First stage of the drill is to prove for yourself the impersonal nature of existence and revealing the impersonal nature of Anatta. We do this by practicing an Impersonal perspective in a practice drill. This leads us to the realization of this Impersonal nature of everything, or, seeing things as they actually are.

4) (THE ORIGINATION OF IDENTITY) How does a false idea that everything is personal (Atta) develop? As we are growing up, we learn to take things personally by simply following what we see others doing around us.

5) (THE CESSATION OF IDENTITY) The second part of the drill is to practice seeing clearly this lack of identity in all aspects of the six sense doors. We begin to practice letting go of personalizing everything happening and adopt a more Harmonious Impersonal Perspective. He shows them how to do this all the time.

6) (THE UNDERLYING TENDENCIES) This section demonstrates what happens if we don’t understand how things work and how we accidentally slip into Atta perspective without having correct knowledge. The Buddha shows us how we get into trouble if we don’t understand clearly how a feeling originates, how it disappears, how we get caught up in a personal gratification (involvement) with it, the danger of getting caught like this, and the escape from the suffering this causes. It’s because of this misunderstanding that it becomes impossible for us to get free from suffering.

7) (ABANDONMENT OF UNDERLYING TENDENCIES) The Buddha demonstrates to the monks how to abandon these suffering tendencies through attaining knowledge and vision of their actual impersonal nature. As we see them impersonally, as they actually are, then, it becomes possible to get free from suffering.

8) (LIBERATION) The last section explains that as we become awakened in this way as our perspective shifts. As we let go and get out of the way, mind opens up fully allowing us to experience a natural and wholesome shift in our personality à We become dis-enchanted with past views, let go of past concerns, and allow Dispassion to arise which means that mind cannot become disturbed, it becomes imperturbable. This is a very strong balance; equanimity. Then, when conditions are right, there takes place a Liberation of the Mind which is an experience of deep relief as mind opens the way for the experience of Nibbana to occur. May you reach Nibbana quickly and easily in this very lifetime! compiled by Rev. Sister Khema at Dhamma Sukha Meditation Center- July 2013